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Anyone heard this yet? Given it a couple of listens so far. Pretty much Standard Mogwai really, what you'd expect now, bit like Stereolab in their comforting familiarity. 'Mexican Grand Prix' has got a bit of krautrock thing going on, and is a bit different, but it's mostly standard mogwai.

I love Mogwai and I had high hopes for the new stuff but Rano Pano, Too Raging to Cheers and You're Lionel Richie are the only tracks which made any impression on me - the rest of it is a bit generic. Still looking forward to the tour in February, like.

I assume it's against the law to post links to blogs for downloading albums on here..
Actually one thing about their albums since Mr. Beast is they sound kind of compressed, when you go back to Young Team, it's really noticable. shame really, as the new stuff, sounds nice enough, but this compressed sound lacks the tension and beauty of their earlier stuff. Similar thing with flaming lips innit.

I've loved everything they've put out (with the exception of CODY which I don't really get beyond the title track and Ex-Cowboy) regardless of the fact they've been running on empty for quite a while now. Average Mogwai is still much better than most things.

I really love Mogwai, but yeah they have lacked some progression over the last few albums. Will most likely buy the album as I have all the others and I'm a bit of a completist cunt like that, but these initial reviews are a little disheartening.

Listened to it twice so far and at the moment it's a 7/10.
Problem with Mogwai is they've set their own benchmark so high. It's a good album but there's nothing on there anywhere near giving me the feeling that for example Like Herod did on first listen.

Rock Action, Happy Songs and Mr. Beast were a fantastic, culminative trilogy of album's that represent they best they have to offer. Of course I love Young Team, Cody is ok but those 3 are all phenomenal. Then I thought Hawk didn't push things forward and kind of sounded like them drifting and taking a step back. I hope Hardcore will move things forward again. Don't want another disappointment like Hawk. I'll reserve judgement of course until I hear the damn thing.

Labels know that things get leaked, they aren't stupid, it would worry me more if no-one went to the effort of leaking it, but its a game of %s and they will keep the distributors etc. happy by not mentioning it unless they are desperate for a reason to be in the press.

I like it, but it's quite a departure for them. Slap a whiny voice over the top and some tracks could be any american alt radio rock band. It's better than that though. Raging to Cheers, San Pedro, Rano Pano, they're all really good. And i really liked Hawk is Howling, except for a couple of songs. Also, the Zindane soundtrack is great and never get's enough of a mention.

have now ordered my special edition from japan.
there is an urgency and energy to the toons that i've not really detected from Mogwai for ages. also the drummer is finally on the money....not usually a fan of mogwais beats.

I can't believe you think this is a standard half arsed Mogwai release. Are you mental?! I have been a really loyal fan of this band since I got to see them in 1997/98 and followed them ever since. I have to admit Mr Beast and Hawk were slightly middle ground for them and no epic highlights (still at their standard, very great albums).

But this new album, you all moaned you want vocals, so you get vocals. You get riffs, you get drum fills (on almost every song!). Each song is so varied in dynamics and substance.

I will fight any fucking c**t hipster dickhead to the grave who believe this album is half arsed. What the fuck do you know anyway you bedroom blogsphere loser. I'd love to see you make an album.

fake train and new plastic ideas are all pretty much flawless albums IMHO...new plastic ideas is a bit patchy but still has some crackers while i still need to track down repetition and challenge for a civilised society.

i always think of unwound as a brilliant merging of sonic youth's squally pop and slint's dynamics...

I suggest you hunt it down. Seriously, there's not a weak moment on that album. Challenge for a Civilized Society is probably my least favourite album of theirs but it's still worth a listen - Side Effects of Being Tired is particularly epic.

as they were that band that broadened my mind on music. However they have had a few shabby efforts (Mr Beast and Hawk...) but personally I think its a return to form. Rano Pano and San Pedro are going to be biblically awesome when i see them (again!) at the Sage in Gateshead.

I also think that often with this newer stuff it helps hearing it live to put it into context. I hated Mr Beast (sounded like an attempt to these ears to distill their back catalogue into 4 minute 'songs', which failed) and initially disliked 'Hawk is howling'. However I now really love the latter after it's better tracks blew me away in Hammersmith 2 years back and it all made sense.

Seeing as it's out now. I got the special edition last night. It's pretty amazing. I've only listened to it twice, whilst eating dinner and pottering about, but it sounds epic and amazing. some really cool new things on it too. quite looking forward to digesting it completely when i get a chance.

but I've never really fully got into them. Seen them live a couple of times, own Young Team, which is pretty good, but so far I'm really enjoying this new one. I love the krautiness of Mexican Grand Prix, the Earth style doominess of You're Lionel Richie, the general density and driving hugeness of the whole album. Sounds incredible played loud on speakers.

I've listened to the new one twice and I'm pretty undecided. It's different which I suppose is good but it hasn't grabbed me as instantly as previous records have. THIH isn't one of their best but I still had a proper goosebumps moment with Scotland's Shame first time I heard it. Going to try and give it a proper listen tomorrow before seeing them in the evening.